Terrible gas MPG around town

[cardgunner]

I just bought a used 2003 Windstar with 153K on it. I just did some preliminary tests on the MPG and I'm getting 11 MPG around town and 24 MPG on the highway. The 11 is what is alarming when I'm getting 24 on trips.

I have checked the tires and they are good. I am pretty sure it has never had a tune up. I am planning on changing the plugs, wires, fuel filter, and running fuel injector cleaner thru it. The air filter is fine.

However could that be the cause of such bad MPG around town when I'm getting OK MPG on trips? Is there anything else that could cause this? Is there anything else I should replace in the tune-up process?

Thanks,
CardGunner

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by cardgunner

I just bought a used 2003 Windstar with 153K on it. I just did some preliminary tests on the MPG and I'm getting 11 MPG around town and 24 MPG on the highway. The 11 is what is alarming when I'm getting 24 on trips.

I have checked the tires and they are good. I am pretty sure it has never had a tune up. I am planning on changing the plugs, wires, fuel filter, and running fuel injector cleaner thru it. The air filter is fine.

However could that be the cause of such bad MPG around town when I'm getting OK MPG on trips? Is there anything else that could cause this? Is there anything else I should replace in the tune-up process?

Thanks,
CardGunner

Is the check engine light on, ( is the check engine light working) I would check for codes just to see if there is any pending codes. I would also look at the upstream 02 sensors, they could still be the original ones. They are probably working but are lasy and causing the engine to run a rich fuel mixture in town but on the open highway leans the mixture.

just some thoughts

[wiswind]

24 mpg highway mileage is good.
On my '96, I changed both of the upstream oxygen sensors, using Genuine Motorcraft ones (bought through Rockauto) at around 190K miles and I got no change in performance or mileage.
Of course, it was running just fine before.
I changed them for exactly the reasons stated above, but it did not help or hurt in my case.

In town mileage is hard to gauge.
Some folks end up sitting stopped in traffic a lot, some can cruise along at a steady speed more....some drive only a couple miles each trip, others many miles each trip..
In other words.....too many variables to be able to compare 1 person to another.
A heavy vehicle like a minivan takes more fuel to bring up to speed than a small, light car.

The things that you mention doing, all are routine maintenance items that one should do.
Also, I would change the transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and bleed brake fluid at each wheel.

[kafkacell]

Hi, I would change air filter (this is crucial for mileage), clean MAF and avoid putting products on injectors aka cleaners or whatever. They must be taken out and get cleaned or use Berryman's cleaner.

For a 2003 is not so bad 24 MPG on highway. 11 Seems to be very low (16 MPG is the average on city).

Few things can improve it. Spark plugs (motorcraft or auto lite ONLY and double platinum), spark plug wires, fuel filter, and fluid changes will do the job.

Also A/C on will drop MPG.